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Endless Waiting of the Families of Lost

October 1, 2010
Tea Topuria

What is it like when someone is missing? For the family of a missing person, it means life out of order, misunderstandings everywhere, endless checking of corpses, going to different state organs, acquaintances, NGOs, even the fortune-tellers... You too feel lost… Everyone with a missing family member says that this is a lot worse than a death notice.

(on the photo: Roman Baghaturia)

But like everything, this too is conditional.

Violeta Grigolia: “We were told that our neighbor was missing. But as it turned out, he was killed and his wife was just hiding truth from her mother-in-law. When his mother died, his picture and a black cloth were put up on the wall. Wife said that he was murdered in Abkhazia when they were hiding in the cellar. They killed him right in front of her.”

The endless wars caused the mourning for several family members. Muraz Romelashvili sent two of his sons to August war, both were tankers. One got lost, another one is buried in Mukhatgverdi graveyard. The grave is symbolic – his corpse was burned, only the wrist is left buried there.

Muraz Romelashvili: “Last time I saw Gia was August 7th. He came early in the morning. I didn’t know that the war was starting. He was called several times. Gela was called on August 5th. I have not seen him since.”

Romelashvilis are brothers from Tskhinvali. They were raised as IDPs in Gori. Right when they got married and found jobs, the war broke out, right then when their life was finally improving.

Gia and Gela worked for different tanks. Gela’s tank exploded at the entrance of Tskhinvali. Gela got out move to his brother’s tank. While doing so, he was captured. Gia Romelashvili was lost too, Sukhitashvili and Birtvelashvili as well, who were with him in the tank.

“It was hard, but I could recognize Gela, my son. I received a photo of him with a bullet in his head. I can show you if it is not thrown away. My wife hates it. Then his body was burned and only wrist is buried in Mukhatgverdi graveyard. Even the DNA result confirmed that the body was really Gela’s. Brushes were taken home for the hair testing.”

The family of Longulashvili is mourning over two sons as well. One was lost while taking over Gagra, 17 years ago, another on in 2008, as a result of wounds received 17 years ago. Their elderly parents are living in Niqozi alone. The house destroyed in the August war was repaired by their relatives.

Avtandil Longulashvili, father: “My older son got wounded in the war. He went through nine surgeries. These wounds killed him. Meanwhile, another son Gia went to Abkhazia. While taking over Gagra, he was captured. As we heard, he was severely beaten, then taken to help with burying the dead. Nobody saw him since that.”

Violeta Grigolia lost brother and a husband in Sokhumi. This life is confusing, states she. The war overtook her from Sokhumi to Abasha where she got married. This is very strange.

Violeta Grigolia: “My father-in-law’s family is very hard-working and famous. There’s a book written about them. In 1992 my brothers fought in Sokhumi, my husband Vepkhia Grigolia borrowed some money and came to them. He thought to found a bird farm with them. We know that he came to Sokhumi, an acquaintance saw him, but he never reached my brothers. I have no idea where he disappeared.

My brother Omar Megrelishvili is missing as well. He took body of my second nephew, 22-year-old boy from Sokhumi to Zestaponi. Then he went back. We never saw him afterwards. My brother is such a person, if he survived, he would have definitely come back by all means. I’m still hoping in the survival of my husband, but… We did best we could…”

-    When did u start thinking that he might be dead?

-    Since he has not appeared for five years…

Roman Baghaturia, supposedly lost hope that his wife might be alive in several years. Now, he has a second wife.

Venera Gabunia was in the plane which exploded on September 22rd, 1993 in the Babusheri Airport, but she was not found neither among the survivals nor among the dead. He has just two sons left. Right now Roman Baghaturia lives in Abasha. The enlarged photo of his first wife is hung on the prominent place of the room. He is not the only one who got lost in the family. Roman Baghaturia’s cousin Jambul Baghaturia is lost as well. He was a member of “Mkhedrioni” and fought in Gagra: “He was sought by his father, but was never found. I don’t know,’’ – says Roman.

Nothing is worse than obscurity, especially, if it’s continuing for years. “My sister is married in Kaspi. Gate is left partly open. She’s waiting for Kolia.”

Kolia Buzaladze was lost in 1992 Abkhazia war. He lived in Niqozi, but his sister waits for him in Kaspi too. His mother has been waiting for him for years. She died without knowing that her son was lost.

Tsiuri Buzaladze, sister of missing: “He was working in the road inspection. We know that he went to Sokhumi and brought food to some guys. They told us about it. Then, as we were told, he left the place and felt sick at Gumista. We don’t know why he felt sick. Khorbaladze, another guy was with him. They got lost together.

We were not on our minds. My mother was hitting her head on the walls with so much worrying. We tried to lie telling her that he is on his way at work. While coming out, we would cry and roar. My mother died soon.

He was the role model for all three villages. People are still waiting for him.”

The article was prepared within the project -  Investigation of the facts of the Enforced Disappearances in Georgia with Financial Support of the Eurasian Partnership Foundation within the EU funded project - Strengthening the Media’s Role as a Watchdog Institution in Georgia
The contents of this article report are the sole responsibility of the Human rights Centre and cannot be taken as to reflect the views of the European Union and Eurasian Partnership Foundation.

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